Federal Judge Denies Motion to Appeal Recusal Order in Bankruptcy Proceedings

NEW YORK - A New York federal court has rejected the efforts of two committees representative of individuals asserting asbestos-related claims to recuse the judge overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings. In re: The Ad Hoc Committee of Tort Victims, No. 04-08934 (S.D. N.Y.).

In a Feb. 2 opinion, Judge Charles S. Haight Jr. of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York ruled that the judge's denial of the motion to recuse was not a final order, and therefore, not an appealable one. In doing so, Judge Haight rejected the Committees' contention that finality in bankruptcy proceedings is …